New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. Announces Earnings for Second Quarter of 2014

NEWPORT, NH--(Marketwired - Jul 11, 2014) - New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. ("we," "us," "our" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: NHTB), the holding company for Lake Sunapee Bank, fsb (the "Bank"), today reported consolidated net income for the six months ended June 30, 2014 of $4.5 million, or $0.53 diluted earnings per common share, compared to $3.8 million, or $0.52 diluted earnings per common share, for same period in 2013, an increase of $638 thousand, or 16.58%. For the quarter ended June 30, 2014, we reported consolidated net income of $2.3 million, or $0.28 diluted earnings per common share, compared to $1.8 million, or $0.25 diluted earnings per common share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $544 thousand, or 30.27%.

"The financial results for the second quarter of 2014 reflect strong loan growth, due in part to our expanded footprint, which now extends from Nashua in southern New Hampshire to Randolph in central Vermont," President and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Theroux, commented. "As the refinance market waned, we shifted our emphasis to the purchase mortgage and commercial real estate markets, which has produced increased interest income to help offset the decrease of approximately $1.4 million in mortgage banking fees for the first six months of 2014. Additionally, fees generated through our wealth management and insurance subsidiaries continue to incrementally add to non-interest income."

Financial Highlights

Total assets increased $67.4 million, or 4.73%, to $1.5 billion at June 30, 2014 from $1.4 billion at December 31, 2013.

Net loans increased $67.3 million, or 5.93%, to $1.2 billion at June 30, 2014 from $1.1 billion at December 31, 2013.

During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company originated $190.8 million in loans, an increase of 7.49%, compared to $177.5 million during the same period in 2013. During the quarter ended June 30, 2014, we originated $110.9 million in loans, an increase of 11.12%, compared to $99.8 million during the same period in 2013.

Our loan servicing portfolio was $408.0 million at June 30, 2014, compared to $417.3 million at December 31, 2013.

Total deposits increased $23.1 million, or 2.12%, to $1.1 billion at June 30, 2014 from $1.1 billion at December 31, 2013.

Net interest and dividend income for the six months ended June 30, 2014 was $20.9 million compared to $16.0 million for the same period in 2013. Net interest and dividend income for the three months ended June 30, 2014 was $10.7 million compared to $7.8 million for the same period in 2013.

Net income available to common stockholders was $4.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to $3.7 million for the same period in 2013. Net income available to common stockholders was $2.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2013.

As a percentage of total loans, non-performing loans decreased to 1.47% at June 30, 2014 from 1.86% at December 31, 2013.

Earnings Summary for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2014

Net income of $4.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 represents the combined impacts of a changing revenue landscape for us. Net interest and dividend income, our core source of earnings, increased $5.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. This increase represents the combined impact of our acquisition of Randolph National Bank in October 2013 and our origination and organic portfolio growth, as well as the additional the benefits of our improving spreads and our cost of funds management.

The provision for loan losses increased $133 thousand to $709 thousand required based on adequacy calculations for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to $576 thousand for the same period in 2013.

Noninterest income increased $3.0 million, or 44.99%, to $9.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to $6.6 million for the same period in 2013. Within noninterest income, we can more clearly see the manifestation of the previously referenced changing revenue landscape. In recent years, we have recognized revenue within our mortgage banking operations as a result of the high volume of refinance activity into long-term fixed-rate mortgages, which we typically sell into the secondary market while retaining servicing for fee revenue and customer relationships. Additionally, markets during recent years have been favorable to providing opportunities within our investment portfolio. With the increases in long-term market rates, which began in the summer of 2013, these opportunities have waned and the anticipated impacts have been realized as we disclose lower net gains on sales of loans and sales of securities. Net gains on sales of loans decreased $1.4 million, or 89.43%, to $170 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. This is primarily driven by a change in volume from $63.4 million of loans sold in the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to $12.7 million for the same period in 2014, a decrease of $50.7 million, or 79.93%. Gains on sales of securities, net, decreased $338 thousand, or 43.28%, to $443 thousand for the six month period ended June 30, 2014, compared to $781 thousand for the same period in 2014.

While we have seen some revenue streams decline, we have increased others. The most significant addition to noninterest income is $4.2 million from trust and investment management fees representing revenue from our subsidiary, Charter Trust Company. This represents an increase of $3.9 million over our realized income from our 50% ownership of Charter Trust Company for the six month period ended June 30, 2013. We completed the acquisition of Charter Holding Corp., the holding company of Charter Trust Company, in September 2013.

Noninterest expense increased $7.1 million, or 43.27%, to $23.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to $16.3 million for the same period in 2013. Within noninterest expense, salaries and employee benefits increased $3.7 million, or 44.03%, to $12.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to $8.4 million for the same period in 2013. This increase includes expenses related to additional staff and operations for Charter Trust Company and The Randolph National Bank and its eight branches, which represent over 70% of the increase in salaries and employees benefits. Occupancy expense increased $851 thousand, or 39.95%, to $3.0 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2014, compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2013. The occupancy expenses from Charter Holding Corp. and former The Randolph National Bank branches represent $357 thousand and $537 thousand, respectively. Depositors' insurance increased $162 thousand, or 42.74%, due to the growth in deposits comparing June 30, 2014 to June 30, 2013. The increase of $693 thousand in outside services for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013 includes $449 thousand related to Charter Trust Company operations and increases of $82 thousand related to our core processing provider and $47 thousand related to statement rendering, an increase of 81.14%, which is primarily related to newly introduced regulations that required us to provide monthly statements for all conventional mortgage accounts beginning in January 2014. Amortization of intangible assets increased $489 thousand, or 128.68%, to $869 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to $380 thousand for the same period in 2013 due to the additional core deposit intangible from the acquisition of The Randolph National Bank and the customer list intangible from the acquisition of Charter Holding Corp. Other expenses increased $588 thousand to $3.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, including $370 thousand from Charter Trust Company operations and an increase of $128 thousand in contributions, including an increase of $105 in tax-qualified contributions.

Balance Sheet Summary as of June 30, 2014

Total assets were $1.5 billion at June 30, 2014, compared to $1.4 billion at December 31, 2013, an increase of $67.4 million, or 4.73%. Securities available-for-sale decreased $13.7 million to $111.6 million at June 30, 2014, from $125.2 million at December 31, 2013. Net loans held in portfolio increased $67.3 million, or 5.93%, to $1.2 billion at June 30, 2014, from $1.1 billion at December 31, 2013. Conventional real estate loans increased $37.0 million and commercial real estate loans increased $24.8 million, representing 54.97% and 36.86%, respectively, of the net loan growth. The allowance for loan losses was $9.8 million at June 30, 2014, compared to $9.8 million at December 31, 2013. The change of $46 thousand in the allowance for loan losses is the net effect of provisions of $709 thousand, charge-offs of $948 thousand and recoveries of $294 thousand in addition to net charge-offs of $13 thousand to the reserve for the overdraft protection program. Additionally, the Bank had a credit mark of $6.1 million at June 30, 2014 related to acquired loan balances of $174.8 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2014, we originated $190.8 million in loans, an increase of 7.49%, compared to $177.5 million during the same period in 2013. During the quarter ended June 30, 2014, we originated $110.9 million in loans, an increase of 11.12%, compared to $99.8 million during the same period in 2013.

Goodwill increased $191 thousand, or 0.43%, to $44.8 million at June 30, 2014, from $44.6 million at December 31, 2013. Intangible assets decreased $869 thousand, or 7.89%, to $10.2 million at June 30, 2014, compared to $11.0 million at December 31, 2013. This reflects ordinary amortizations of intangible assets of $869 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2014.

Total deposits increased $23.1 million, or 2.12%, to $1.1 billion at June 30, 2014, from $1.1 billion at December 31, 2013, including an increase of $30.2 million in brokered deposits used in conjunction with additional advances to fund loan growth. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank increased $49.3 million, or 40.46%, to $171.0 million at June 30, 2014, from $121.7 million at December 31, 2013. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase decreased $7.0 million, or 25.26%, to $20.8 million at June 30, 2014 from $27.9 million at December 31, 2013.

Stockholders' equity of $152.8 million resulted in a book value of $15.74 per common share at June 30, 2014 based on 8,241,228 shares of common stock outstanding. The Bank remains well capitalized with a Leverage Capital ratio of 8.15% at June 30, 2014.

Quarterly Dividend

On July 10, 2014, we declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.13 per share payable July 31, 2014 to stockholders of record as of July 24, 2014.

The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which speak only as of the date made. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date of this release. The Company and Lake Sunapee Bank do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.

Selected Financial Highlights

Three Months

Six Months

(Dollars in thousands except

Ended June 30,

Ended June 30,

for per share data)

2014

2013

2014

2013

Net Income

$

2,342

$

1,797

$

4,485

$

3,847

Per Common Share Data:

Basic Earnings

0.28

0.25

0.53

0.52

Diluted Earnings (1)

0.28

0.25

0.53

0.52

Dividends Paid

0.13

0.13

0.26

0.26

Dividend Payout Ratio

46.43

%

52.00

%

49.06

%

50.00

%

As of

(Dollars in thousands except

June 30,

December 31,

for per share data)

2014

2013

Total Assets

$

1,491,269

$

1,423,870

Total Securities (2)

123,690

134,998

Loans, Net

1,201,357

1,134,110

Total Deposits

1,111,240

1,088,092

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

170,988

121,734

Stockholders' Equity

152,756

149,257

Book Value per Common Share

$

15.74

$

15.37

Common Shares Outstanding

8,241,228

8,216,747

Leverage (Tier I) Capital

8.15

%

8.29

%

Number of Offices:

Banking Offices

38

38

Insurance Offices

3

3

Trust Offices

7

6

(1)

Diluted earnings per share are calculated using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period, including common stock equivalents, as appropriate.

(2)

Includes available-for-sale securities shown at fair value and Federal Home Loan Bank stock at cost.